Recommended Reading

Recommended Reading

Frederick Glasscock, The book of the Fellowship of the Knights of the Round Table of King Arthur (Print on demand)Modern re –print of our founder's instructions on how to operate The Fellowship and what is required to be a member. The Fellowship has moved on now, but interesting no the less.Find it here

Geoffrey of Monmouth, The History of the Kings of Britain (Penguin, 1966)

Chrétien de Troyes, Arthurian Romances (Penguin, 1991)

Translated and with an introduction and notes by William W. Kibler. Contains all of Chrétien de Troyes' major romances including Erec and Enide, Cligés, The Knight of the Cart (Lancelot), The Knight with the Lion (Yvain) and The Story of the Grail (Perceval) as well as a useful appendix on grail continuations. Although the edition is translated with a modern reader in mind, a glossary of medieval terms is also included for ease of understanding.

A modern prose translation that sits alongside the original Middle English text. Great for those looking to get the look and feel of the original text without the need for specialist translation skills. Also contains a useful introduction and textual notes.

Tolkien's translations of Pearl and Sir Orfeo are also included in this edition. This poetry translation has a very 'Tolkienesque' feel to it but provides a nice middle ground between the Middle English text of the Barron translation and the modern poetry of Armitage's version.

An accomplished poetry translation by a popular modern poet. Armitage's translation is one of the most accessible versions of the poem for new readers and successfully renders the Middle English into modern language without losing sense and meaning.

Sir Thomas Malory, Complete Works (Oxford University Press, 1971)

Based upon the fifteenth century Winchester manuscript, this is a lively edition of Malory's Morte D'Arthur and includes Caxton's original preface. Not for the faint-hearted however, as this edition retains the fifteenth century English and is a little short on notes.

Peter Ackroyd, The Death of King Arthur: The Immortal Legend (Penguin Classics, 2011)

An immensely readable – if slightly simplified – updating of Malory's Morte D'Arthur by the popular writer and historian. If the edition above sounds a little daunting, this is a lighter introduction to Malory's tales.

This doorstop of a book contains the complete Idylls of the King as well as The Lady of Shalott, Morte d'Arthur. Sir Galahad, Sir Launcelot and Queen Guinevere and much of Tennyson's other famous verse. For those only wanting to read the Idylls, Penguin do a nice edition as part of their Classics range.

T. H. White, The Once and Future King (Voyager, 1996)

An almost complete edition (doorstop alert!) of T. H. White's classic re-telling of the Arthurian story. Contains 'The Sword in the Stone', 'The Queen of Air and Darkness', 'The Ill-Made Knight' and 'The Candle in the Wind' but does not include 'The Book of Merlyn', published later. Single editions of each of the sections are available – 'The Sword in the Stone' is probably the most readable.

Marion Zimmer Bradley, The Mists of Avalon (Penguin, 1998)

A feminist re-telling of the Arthurian story seen through the eyes of Gwenhwyfar, Vivane and Morgaine. A modern classic which spawned a number of feminist re-interpretations of the classic legends as well as a number of sequels and prequels.

On The Ruin of Britain (De Excidio Brittaniae) (Gildas)

History of Britain (Historia Brittonum) (Nennius)

Morte d'Arthur Volume 1 (Penguin Classics)

Morte d'Arthur Volume 2 (Penguin Classics)

Morte d'Arthur (Kindle Version)

L'Morte D'Arthur (John Matthews & Anna –Marie Ferguson)

Le Morte d'Arthur (Eye Classics, John Matthews, Will Sweeney)

(Roly : "This is a 'Graphic novel' style book and great fun!")

The Acts of King Arthur and his Noble Knights (John Steinbeck)

COMMENTARY ON ARTHUR

Camelot and the Vision of Albion (Geoffrey Ashe)The Discovery of King Arthur (Geoffrey Ashe)The Age of Arthur (John Morris)